As I Am Read Free

the awesomeness of The Lodge. It seemed fitting, and Gateway Cabin was created.
    “What the?” Addy cries.
    “Oh, did I forget to tell you that some folks beat you here?” Jim laughs. Sitting on the front porch of The Lodge are Matthew and Pete. They roomed together last year and clearly had the same idea as we did.
    “When did you guys get here?” I call, stumbling out of the van.
    “About an hour ago,” Matthew says. “The early bird gets the worm!”
    “Well, you better not have taken the corner room with the perfect view of clearing!” Addy demands with a smile. “We called dibs on it last year!”
    “Oh, no, you were very clear on that last summer and I had no desire to put my life at stake. It’s yours!” Pete tells her.
    We exchange hugs and the guys help us bring our bags upstairs. The light wood throughout the cabin is shiny from varnish and the whole house smells fresh and clean, just like I remember. All the counselors stay a few days after the kids go home at the end of the summer to do things like strip beds and wash and fold sheets, clean bathrooms, sort lost and found items, but the Fellows bring in a cleaning company to give all of the cabins a good scrub -down before everyone arrives so they look and feel fresh.
    “How was your year ?” I ask the guys.
    “It was great, actually,” Pete says. “I took an extra class each semester so I’ve only got eighteen credit hours to finish out my senior year. The schedule isn’t out yet, but I’m hoping to do nine and nine each semester to keep things as stress free as possible.” Pete is Mr. Outdoors. Anything having to do with nature and fitness, he’s your man. He’s getting his degree in health sciences and is really passionate about teaching these kids about how they can be healthy and fit through fun. It’s nice that there are actually a few of us here who care about the experience these kids have. Most of the counselors aren’t that invested.
    “My year wasn’t as academically exciting, but Jeffrey and I made things official,” Matthew says with a face-splitting grin.
    “I’d like to think I played a part in that,” I tell him. He looks at me sideways. “Hello! How many times did I walk into my room to find you sitting on the floor chatting away with Jeffrey in there so you could have some privacy?” We aren’t allowed to have our cell phones with us when we’re with the kids, but at night it’s total ly okay and Matthew took full advantage of that.
    “Ok ay, okay … I’ll give you some credit!” he laughs. “Alright … here we are. I’d hold out my hand for a tip but I know Addison only pays in booze, so …”
    “Yes, I’m sure you’ll get more than you’re due at tonight’s bonfire,” she quips.
    “I knew we could count on you!” Pete says. “Alright, man, we better get back down there. We are the official welcoming committee.”
    “See you later,” Addison and I say together, then laugh. It’s a twin thing.
    “This view is amazing, Addy! Way to go calling dibs!” I tell her as I stare out the window. The rooms in all the cabins are simple. This room has two single beds with white sheets and navy blue comforters. There’s a dresser next to the door and a nightstand with a small lamp in between the beds. There’s also a closet, but we don’t hang anything up. With a summer wardrobe of shorts and T-shirts during the day and jeans and a hoodie at night, there’s nothing nice enough to hang, so we just store our suitcases in there.
    “Which bed do you want?” I ask her, eyeing the one closest to the window. I’m sure it’s the one she wants but I’m hoping she’ll let me have it.
    “I was actually going to talk to you about that,” she begins. “I think we should not room together.”
    “What? Why not?” I ask with confusion. “We always room together.”
    “That’s why. Because we always room together. We’re twenty now, Kinley. Don’t you think it’s time we start doing some things